by Glenn, Laura
“Kiss me,” she whispered, parting her thighs.
She had finally surrendered. Galen crushed his lips to hers, slanting his mouth over hers again. Her hips rocked beneath him, rubbing his swollen shaft back and forth against her soft flesh. If the woman was not careful, he was liable to spread her legs and shove his cock into her right then and there. He grabbed her hips in an effort to still them and tore his lips from hers, determined to make her come apart in his arms before he made her completely his.
Cupping one velvety breast in his palm, he bent his head, inhaling her honeyed scent. He flicked his tongue over her nipple, awed by the sweet taste of her skin, and she dug her fingernails into his shoulders. He dragged his teeth across the swollen bud and then circled it with his tongue before taking it into his mouth.
She entwined one of her legs around his, rubbing her silken inner thigh against his hip and groaning his name as he dragged his tongue across her chest to her other nipple. Sexy little whimpers escaped her throat with each flick of his tongue. The moist heat of her arousal cradled his testicles and he trembled against her.
Damn, the woman made this difficult for him. Between his near-to-bursting cock and her writhing hips, he was certain to black out if he did not fuck her soon. Kissing a path up to her neck, he shifted his weight off her and flattened his palm against her stomach. He slid his hand downward, slowly skimming one inner thigh and then the other, determined to end the sweet torment. He threaded his fingers through the curls at the junction of her thighs and grazed her clit. She moaned, bucking against his hand, and he slipped two fingers into her slick folds.
A jolt of energy surged through his cock and he groaned in wonder. He had not expected her to be so hot and wet for him so soon. He needed to make her come. Now.
Anna’s equilibrium tossed about like driftwood on ocean waves. She groaned, opening her thighs as wide as she could, desperate to ease the empty ache pounding through her core.
Galen nibbled her earlobe. “You belong to me now, Annie. Do you understand?”
His strange words filtered through her haze of arousal, causing her to hesitate for a brief moment in uncertainty.
“I care not about your past. Only that you swear to me now that you are mine.” He brushed her clit with his thumb and she jerked, as an intense electric surge shot through her.
If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn she detected worry in his voice. Her heart swelled and a mystifying desire to put his mind at ease arose within her. She caressed his cheek as she nodded, pressing her hungry lips against his.
“Yes, Galen.”
Stunned by the words that had just fallen out of her mouth, the logical part of her brain broke through and screamed at her. You did not just do that! How the hell can you promise yourself to a man you don’t even know? Remember what happened the last time?
But then his thumb circled her clit as his fingers delved between her swollen, aching folds and the admonitions faded. She squeezed her eyes shut, her body twitching. She bit her lower lip and sucked in a deep breath through her nostrils, sinking into the waves of pleasure, the flashes of heat, until her heart began beating again and the pleasure hummed through her core rather than shocking her into convulsions.
His hot lips dragged down her neck and captured her nipple, sucking it into a hard peak. She groaned and rocked her hips in rhythm with his skilled fingers as shock waves spread outward from her clit toward her thighs. The pressure mounted impossibly higher, her need for completion throbbing hotly through her skin.
All sounds from the encampment fell away as Galen’s aroused, ragged breathing filled her ears. Her head swam as his masculine scent teased her nostrils. Her blood surged and her skin tingled with fire, sending her head spinning faster and faster as warm moisture seeped from her core. Gasping and whimpering as tremors pulsed through her pussy, she dug her nails into his back and arched toward him. For one brief moment, her heart stilled, her core gaping. And then she exploded, spasming around his fingers as she cried out his name.
Galen grunted his approval in her ear, shoving his fingers into her hard, over and over again as she convulsed beneath him. “Yes, lass. Yes.”
Anna’s eyes rolled to the back of her head as hot, furious tremors built up and spread within mere moments, seizing all control of her body. She tore her nails down his arms and lifted her hips to force his fingers deeper. Her core contracted around them and she cried out half in gratification and half in frustration over needing more.
His fingers slowed to a pet and she whimpered. His lips landed on hers, his tongue delving into her mouth, which she playfully caught between her teeth. She slid one trembling hand down his side, past his hard, flat stomach, and slipped her palm around his hot shaft. A low groan escaped his throat and she curled her fingers around his thick cock. He pussy contracted hard at the silky weight of him in her palm.
“I need you now,” she whispered against his lips, sliding her palm up and down the length of him.
Snarling, he yanked her legs apart and she released him as he covered her with his body once more. He settled himself between her thighs and she bent her knees. The bulbous tip of his cock pushed against her and parted her slick folds.
He paused. “Oir gu siorraidh is tusa leamsa.” And then, in one smooth thrust, he buried the length of his cock completely inside her.
Anna gasped in acute pleasure, the deepest parts of her stretching to accommodate his shaft. She wrapped her legs around his waist and eagerly writhed her hips beneath him, driving him deeper within her.
He paused for a brief second and withdrew. Establishing a slow, lazy rhythm, he slid back into her. She met his thrusts, planting soft, quick kisses down his shoulder and back up to his neck. She dug her nails into his shoulders once more, reeling with the intensity of new waves of hunger rippling through her pussy. With two hard, direct thrusts, she cried out, clutching him to her chest as searing vibrations seized her core as it struggled to tighten around his thick cock. A guttural groan of her name echoed in her ear as he roughly grabbed her hips and drove hard into her over and over again.
And then he froze, holding her motionless beneath him. His cock pulsated as he shot his hot seed deeply into her core.
Galen’s head fell to her shoulder and Anna let out a long, staggered breath, stroking his back. When his heavy breathing returned to normal, he slid his cock out of her and moved to her side. She shivered as the cold air hit her bare skin. He adjusted the blanket over them, rolled to his side and pulled her against his chest.
She turned to her side as well and pressed her back against him, ignoring the dizziness in her head. She grabbed his hand and cradled it against her breasts as sleepiness rapidly descended upon her.
“I meant what I said, lass,” he whispered. “Oir gu siorraidh is tusa leamsa.”
She stilled, unsure she understood him correctly. She resisted the urge to shake her head in denial. “What did you say?” she asked with a tremble.
His lips brushed her shoulder. “You are mine forever.”
Chapter Six
Galen yawned and stretched as the early morning light seeping into the tent awakened him. He rolled to his side and his eyes landed on Anna, who had stolen the entire blanket at some point in the middle of the night. It covered her from head to toe and she lay curled in a ball on her side about as far away from him as possible in the tent.
He chuckled and moved toward her, resting his hand upon her hip. His cock stirred and he thrust it against her soft backside, caressing her hip with his hand. She shivered against him.
“Annie,” he crooned, leaning toward her ear. “It is time to awaken.”
The ferocity of his need to take her again surprised him. He grasped the edge of the blanket, lifted it to expose her back and dropped his lips to her shoulder.
She shivered again. “Tha mi fuar,” she replied, her voice shaky.
He froze. Had she just spoken Gaelic?
“Dé thuirt thu?” he replied in his
native tongue, asking what she had just said.
Her annoyed sigh reached him from somewhere underneath the blanket. “Dé tha thu ag iarraidh?”
She could certainly speak Gaelic—the woman had just asked him what he wanted. His stomach tightened. She would awaken this instant. And, by all that was holy, he would get some answers out of her.
“Anna,” he barked, pulling the blanket away from her face.
She moaned, covering her ear with her palm. “Galen, please don’t yell.”
The surge of anger melted as the paleness of her face hit him. He caressed her cheeks and then her forehead, the fiery heat emanating from her skin taking him by surprise. How had he not noticed before?
“Hell,” he muttered, recalling her pleas of not feeling well. He was a complete cad for not believing her.
“Tha mi duilich,” she whispered, allowing him to turn her onto her back.
“You do not need to apologize.” Galen dared not to look at her nakedness as he removed the blanket. “I am going to help you dress so we can get you to safety.”
“I’m so cold.”
“I know, lass.”
He sighed in resignation and gathered the clothing she had laid out along the edge of the tent. He helped her to sit and slipped her sleeveless shirt over her head, his cock stirring at the sight of her full, soft breasts. He grabbed her sweater, determined to put as many layers between them as possible.
“How is it that you can speak my language?” he asked. Hopefully, she would keep her guard down for a little while longer.
Anna grabbed her skirt from him and pulled it onto her hips. She collapsed against him, shivering and breathing heavily.
Galen stroked her hair as several competing questions whirled through his head. Why Anna would speak to him in Gaelic now when she hadn’t when they first met was beyond him, unless she was not who she said she was. If she was not, then who could she be? Someone sent by an enemy clan to attack him?
He nearly snorted at the thought of Anna attacking anyone. Hell, the woman would not even let him kill that damned Graham soldier despite how roughly he had used her. Besides, had he not seen her in his very own dreams two days before she actually appeared in the flesh?
She was too strange, her attitudes, actions and speech too out of the ordinary to be someone sent by one of his enemies in a surprise attack. Until he had proof otherwise, he would believe the story she had told him. He owed her that much for getting him out of the dungeon.
Galen helped her to lie down and then pulled her socks over her feet. Two additional clothing items, besides her tall boots with strange heels, were revealed as he moved the blanket so he could cover her. He picked up the smaller of the two and stared at it in confusion. It was a simple triangle of silky, black cloth that had three strips of fabric extending from each corner, which then met at a smaller triangle in back. His brow furrowed. Where was he supposed to have put that? The other, larger item, made of similar black fabric, had two straps descending to two bulbous shapes, also attached to other strips of fabric. When he held it by the straps in front of him, the large, spherical shapes reminded him of breasts.
He shook his head and tossed the items aside. He couldn’t concern himself with her extra pieces of clothing. Anna was covered in all the right places and this was all that was necessary.
He placed a quick kiss upon her brow and promised to return to her soon.
Stepping out of the tent, he grabbed his dry clothing and quickly dressed. Turning, he spotted Adam and Geoffrey swaggering toward him, grinning from ear to ear.
“We were just debating about who should dare to fetch you from that tent.” Adam laughed.
Galen allowed one corner of his mouth to curl in a small smile before sobering as the men stopped in front of him. “Anna’s feverish.”
“Damn.” The amusement fell from Adam’s face. He crossed his arms and shook his head. “How is she?”
“Barely coherent,” Galen muttered. “She is burning up and needs to be tended to.”
“We could take her to the MacPherson holding,” Geoffrey offered. “We—”
Galen shook his head. “We have asked too much of them already.”
Adam nodded. “They have been more than accommodating in allowing us to remain on their land overnight. It is a definite risk to them, especially since their laird’s sister is married to the Campbell. Who knows how long it would take the Gowrie to find out.”
Geoffrey scowled. “No one knows who she is, let alone she is associated with us.”
“Word travels quickly in the Highlands,” Galen said as he crossed his arms. “A casual remark by a MacPherson servant to the wrong person that they are sheltering my woman and we will be riding from this battle into another with the Gowrie after he has kidnapped Anna. Too many Campbells have married into the MacPherson clan. Do not think for a moment the Campbell laird wouldn’t alert his overlord to the presence of my woman in his brother-in-law’s keep.”
“We have to take her home.” Adam sighed in resignation.
A muscle in Galen’s jaw twitched. “I would not normally ask—”
“I know.” Adam dismissively waved his hand. “But she is our mistress now and her safety is our priority.”
Galen nodded curtly. “Geoffrey, you will ride with them.”
Geoffrey’s face reddened and he balled his fists at his sides. “I need to stand by your side in battle. If I had not—”
“What is done is done,” Galen growled, not wishing to take this particular moment to box his brother’s ears for his stupidity at getting caught with a Graham cow. “You have learned your lesson, have you not?”
“Then why are you punishing me?”
Galen narrowed his eyes, losing patience as he stared at his eighteen-year-old brother. “It is not punishment to protect your mistress. It is your duty and your honor.”
“My mistress?” Geoffrey sputtered, his eyes wide in angry shock. “No vows have been exchanged, have they? Galen, listen to reason. You have no proof of who she really is, only what she has told you.”
With one, swift motion, Galen’s hand wrapped around his brother’s neck and lifted him off the ground. “She is the woman who got me out of that castle alive and just might have saved your sorry ass from getting killed in attempting to breech the Graham defenses!”
Adam grabbed Galen’s arm and pushed against Geoffrey’s chest in an attempt to separate the brothers, but to no avail. “Galen swore before us last night he was taking the woman for his own. Do not question your laird!” he admonished the younger man.
Galen flicked his wrist and released Geoffrey, sending his younger brother flying onto his backside. Geoffrey sprang up and lunged for Galen.
Adam stepped between them and shoved Geoffrey backward. “I am your commander!” he shouted. “I do not care if the laird is your brother, you will not step outside the chain of command. If you have a problem, you bring it to me. Do you understand?”
“Then tell my laird,” Geoffrey spat, peering around Adam, “I will not play nursemaid to some treacherous English wench simply because his cock has taken a liking to her!”
Galen’s control snapped. Nostrils flaring, he shoved Adam aside and threw back his right elbow. Before Geoffrey could react, Galen’s fist landed squarely on Geoffrey’s jaw and he was knocked to the ground.
Galen stepped forward, placed his foot on Geoffrey’s chest and leaned over him, breathing heavily. “You may not like those who speak her tongue, but I will not tolerate your disrespect toward Anna. She will be your sister, make no mistake about it.”
Geoffrey stared at Galen for several long moments, Geoffrey’s eyes full of remorse, before he nodded.
Galen stepped backward, offering Geoffrey his hand. He pulled himself to his feet, wiggled his jaw back and forth, rubbing it.
“Galen?” came a small, feminine voice from behind them.
All three men turned simultaneously. Anna stood before them, wrapped in a blanket and shivering.<
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Galen reached her in two long strides. His breath caught in his chest as he tucked her hair behind her ears and stared down at her face in the light of day. The sun bounced off of her gloriously red hair, contrasting perfectly with her milky flesh. He could not resist running his fingers through her silky hair, the strands curling around and between his fingers like a caress.
“What are you doing out here, lass?” The words caught on the sudden dryness of his throat. “I told you I would be back for you.”
The tears threatening to spill from her bewitching blue-green eyes were nearly his undoing. He caressed her pale cheek with the back of his hand, wishing he could somehow return the sparkle to her sickly eyes.
“The yelling is hurting my ears,” she whispered, casting her gaze toward his feet.
She had heard their conversation. Galen had half a mind to turn around and knock his brother to the ground a second time.
“Adam and Geoffrey are going to get you to safety,” he replied, careful to keep the fury out of his voice.
Anna nodded and, without thinking of his audience, Galen pressed his lips to the top of her heated forehead, lingering for a moment longer than necessary. His chest ached at the thought of letting her leave his arms, but he had no other choice. He motioned Adam forward with a lift of his chin.
Solemnly looking down at Anna, Adam placed a gentle arm around her shoulders. “Come, my lady,” he encouraged. “Let us get you to a warm bed.”
Galen’s throat tightened with an unfamiliar emotion as Adam guided her away. “Ride like hell,” he gruffly commanded, resisting the urge to push his friend away so he could take her home himself.
He froze in his tracks as the more reasoned part of his brain questioned what the hell he was doing. He had actually taken her as his woman—in front of most of his warriors—and he barely knew her. He had also just laid his brother out flat for questioning Anna’s intent while he too harbored doubts about her. He was reacting far too strangely to this woman. She clouded his thinking and his chest ached at the mere thought of letting her go.